SPICE

Supporting Pacific indigenous computing in excellence

Funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), Inclusion across the Nation of Communities of Learners of Underrepresented Discoverers in Engineering and Science (INCLUDES) initiative, the SPICE project will enhance U.S. leadership in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) discoveries and innovations by focusing on diversity, inclusion, and broadening participation in these fields.

build capacity in data science at a NHPI-serving undergraduate institution through the development of an undergraduate Certificate in Data Science.

The month-long summer training for 25 NHPI high school students and undergraduates takes place at CUH and focuses on data science, visualization, and virtual reality, including working on problem sets that require data science approaches and incorporate geographically, socially- and culturally-relevant research themes.

"Agency over ‘big data' sets, and contemporary skills in data science, analytics and visualization are the next frontier in educational disparities for this population of students. For example, students will learn how to conduct data analytics so they can do visual reasoning." Kelly Gaither, Principal Investigator of the project and Director of Visualization at TACC.

"Analyzing and applying big data has the potential to change lives in Hawai'i for the better, and we want our students to be part of that better future." Helen Turner, Professor of Biology, Vice President for Innovation at CUH, and Chief Education Officer of the project.